YCN

BOSTON TOWNSHIP

WEBSITE: Visit our website at www.bostontownship.org to find up-to-date Township information. Contact numbers for the trustees: Amy Anderson: 330-687-9498, Randy Bergdorf: 330-655-5698, and Bill Clifton: 330-657-4032. Fiscal Officer: Pam Schneider at 330-657-2059; Road Department: Dave Krusinski at 330-657-2600; and Zoning: Mike Anderson at 234-900-9145.

Road Department: Brush pick-up is scheduled for the first working Monday of each month starting with May 6 and continues through October 7. Place cut ends toward the road. Please, no dirt balls, no foreign materials such as lumber, nails, or any type of wire. This service is for limb trimming and storm clean-up. It is not for full tree removal. Please remember that it is the responsibility of the property owner to keep the ditch free of any material that can restrict the flow of storm water.

Zoning Update: For the last several years Boston Township has been engaged in litigation against billboard companies that seek to erect large billboards in areas of the community bordering State Route 8.

The Township`s opposition to these billboards has been based on sound land-use planning concerns and the desire of the Township to avoid destroying the beauty of the area with unsightly billboards. In the Township`s view uncontrolled use of billboards not only results in an unsightly landscape but is harmful to residents living near those billboards that light up constantly at night and if animated tend to create distracting images that interfere with the quiet enjoyment of residents` property.

The Township won the first round in Summit County Common Pleas Court. Judge Jennifer Towell ruled in the Township`s favor. The Ninth District Court of Appeals took a different approach, reversing Judge Towell`s decision and indicated that the Township had no authority to regulate billboards at all in areas where the Ohio Department of Transportation under Ohio law regulates billboards within 660 feet of state routes and other such highways.

The Township`s concern was that ODOT`s interests are totally different than those of the residents. ODOT`s concern is the effect on state highways only. They have no particular concern about sound land-use planning or the quiet enjoyment of residents of their property without interference by billboards. Nor does ODOT much care about the vistas adjoining a national park. As a result, the Township appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court. On January 28, 2025, the Ohio Supreme Court determined not to hear the Township`s appeal. The Supreme Court only hears about 2% of appeals presented to it.

Recently, the case has worked its way back down the appellate court system from the Supreme Court to the Appeals Court, and finally back to the Common Pleas Court. Because the Court of Appeals ruled that the Township has no authority to regulate billboards in this area when ODOT regulates them, the Township had no choice but to issue the permits for these billboards. In addition, the Township was sued in Federal Court by a different billboard company alleging constitutional and free speech issues. Considering the Ninth District Court of Appeals ruling, that case was recently resolved.

To protect its residents, the Township amended its zoning resolution to make clear that the Township does not regulate billboards in areas regulated by ODOT within 660 feet of the state highway. The Township has established height and area requirements for billboards not regulated by ODOT.

The billboard industry is aggressively attempting to erect billboards in other Summit County townships, such as Coventry and Bath. At this point, unless the Ohio legislature changes the law, both ORC 519.20 and the concept that ODOT has preempted township regulations, there is very little we can do to prevent landowners from putting billboards up on properties within 660 feet of state highways. We hope that the landowners will take into consideration the concerns of township residents and not permit these billboards to be erected on their property.

Police Assistance: During the Route 303 closure, much use was made of the Peninsula Police Department`s Reserve Officers to secure the road and direct traffic at the 303/Major/Stine intersection. As a recognition of their efforts, the trustees voted to allocate $750 towards their compensation.

WEBSITE: Visit our Website at www.bostontownship.org to find up–to–date Township information. Contact numbers for the trustees: Amy Anderson: 330–657–2439, Randy Bergdorf: 330–655–5698, and Bill Clifton: 330–657–4032. Fiscal Officer: Pam Schneider at 330–657–2059; Road Department: Dave Krusinski at 330–657–2600; and Zoning: Mike Anderson at 234–900–9145.